employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

Columbia Sportswear

Engaged Employer

Great benefits, extremely poor management and no room for growth - Anonymous employee Columbia Sportswear Employee Review

2.0
Dec 31, 2019
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Benefits are decent; health care, PTO, and company perks are all very good and the sole reason I have stayed so long. Product is solid and brand still holds up well on a resume.

Cons

One of the most toxic workplace cultures I have worked for. Upper management makes promises it cannot keep and employs a "bulk order" strategy for its employees i.e. hire plenty of contract workers, pay them below industry standard and dangle the hope of full time promotion as a way to work more than 40 hours a week. Management will keep you in your role until you burnout and I have watched top talent go to waste as employees wait years just for a chance to get over to HQ but ultimately quit as management has a philosophy of "we can always hire more". There is zero opportunity for self development in my current department and I was a fool for not listening to the reviews mentioning "being stuck" when I first began my job search. Treat this as a job and nothing more, otherwise you will be disappointed. The benefits will only go so far and I would not spend more than 2 years with this company; 1 was a stretch to begin with.

Explore other reviews about Columbia Sportswear

5.0
May 18, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It was nice good managers fun coworkers

Cons

pay isnt great but what can you expect

1.0
May 31, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pay is above industry standard

Cons

Columbia has the most toxic work culture of anywhere I have ever worked. Employees live in fear of being fired for the slightest transgression. The company makes it known from day one that they are constantly watching you. Other co-workers will report you for taking too long in the restroom. Managers are expected to sell their souls for thier stores. I was reprimanded for telling my staff that I have a life outside of work. I was expected to essentially be on call 24/7 and instructed to tell my team what time I eat dinner with my wife if I did not want to be contacted then and only then. You will be given a barebones payroll budget and expected to operate a store as if you had 10x the employees on staff at all times. You will have absolutely zero work/life balance working for this company. When District/Regional managers, or any coporate partners visit you will be expected to work unlimited overtime with no recognition for your efforts. Do yourself a favor and stay as far away from this company as you can.

1
avatar
Columbia Sportswear Response
4d
Thank you for providing your feedback. We take all compliance concerns seriously and encourage you to report your concern if you feel there has been a violation of law. To do so, please write to ethicsandcompliance@columbia.com. Compliance concerns raised in good faith are promptly investigated. Thank you for helping us uphold our commitment to doing the right thing.
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All